Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-15
A BRIEFLESS BARRISTER'S
STORY.

Walter pixby barrfster at law and gentleman
OF the press. SAT IN his chambers slipping his coffee
and reviewing his life. The rdis0n detre OF the
one occupation that IL was his breakfast hour.
and Of the other that &c was the twenty seventh
anniversary OF his birth. He was IN q serious.
though not melancholy, mood this morning. The
train OF thought natural on such an occasion, had
lei W 20 the realization Of the possibility that he
might be a failure In life. This contingency led
Walter 20 surrey his past and contemplate his
future. His soiloquy ran somewhat In thise wise:
Twas born neither lucky nor rich Ny father.
a failure In trade became faint-hearted, and left
me a poor but honest Lad 20 the tender mercies OF
his brother-a retired ironmonger OF the town OF
Bristol with no children a considerable bankers
balance and a strong interest In political Affairs
The said uncle early discerned In me the Fremont
tiOns or genius. and formed the highest hopes OF
me as a future leader IN the cause OF reform. He
sent 20 oxford. and as the royal road TO parli-
amentary life ordered me TO become barrfster.
This injunction duly obeyed- / kept my terms,
read my books, and passed my examinations-and
was duly called.
"But," and there was a reproachful tone as he
proceeded In his searching determination, "Cta
bo,o' ] have not obtained a brief. ] have not
contested n constituency. No. i have wandered
abroad. led Bohemian life, figured In secOnd-rate
South kensingtOn society at balls. at homes and
garden parties: obtained some reputation for lawn
years on thirty. ir IS four since was called; my
patron uncle i close on threescore. and my sue
In law and services TO reform consist In casual
visits 10 the courts and occasional contributions
10 the papers"
As was natural. good resolutions followed this
inward searching OF heart. He would at once
settle down 10 legal treatiSes and the law courts,
abhOr clubs. arf anathematlLe drawing-rooms,
'cut~ the good fellows and avoid the social sirens
study the land question, and deliver lectures at
wOrku Il'n' clubs. This course carried ont In his
mind Waiter proceeded 20 perform his daily
rssnauCa n Gpzl- with resolution In his mind
and SOmething Ike peace IN his heart
He IOyally observed his self-denying ordinance.
South keus.n.t0n drawinc-TOOmS knew him no
more that season: the ''i4OunserS" had to lament
deserter He Ell all his friends. retaining but
two or thTse kindred spirits. HencefOrth dill
gently attending me courts. reading up cases,
writing for the press, and studying speeches. he
without back-stair influence, the solicitors passed
him over without a thought. Nor could he work
up su.iirient belief IN 'the religion OF humanity
10 discourse TO "the great unwashed" on the viz.
tues OF universal suffrage and the vices OF aTiStoc-
racy. But still hc perSevered- and actually al
loved himself only two weeks holiday in the long
vacation at the iakeS, instead OF two mOnthS-as
OF yOre-at foreign Watering places. And he re-
turned ready 10 renew the struggle with greater
ardOr.
But his fall was at hand perfumed little mis-
sive awaited him a. chambers.
SOUTH KENsISGroS, Monday.
DEAR Mr. DTGBY: haven't seen you for an age,
but hear you return 10 town to-day. j give my
last garden party on Wednesday at three, and
command your presence III you do Dot come
shall think you have gone to Rome, or utterly
forsaken your sincere friend,
Mrs Marian Lamfngton was one member OF the
fair sex TO whom Walt r Digby had been faithful
~ his friendship. Having a husband twenty
change, she had large amount Of spare time on
her hands, which she partially consumed by CIV
lag garden parties IN the summer and lat homes"
n the winter at which she endeavored TO collect
a5many promising young men and interesting
yonng ladies as possible; walter d had had been q
Mrs LamingtOns favOrites. During his reforma-
ton he had fet the loss OF nothing so severely as
these sympOsiums
The temptation was too strong. Taking up the
little note pensively. he reflected on the many
Cheering words and sympathetic sentences he had
heard from her when ne was stlA In the heydey OF
youth.
'she has been very good to me. Come, 1 can't
quite exercise her. will CO."
Wednesday saw this determination fulfilled.
Il have a new member to introduce" exclaimed
garden. after she had rallied him his recent
clusiOn- at l. her first season, and have her
with me for a few days. She is the only daughter
of Mr. 1empleton-a successful stOck-oroker. She
has been educated In Germany, and Is quite blue
stocking. 1 am sure you will like her."
An amused smile passed over walters face. This
was not the f1rst time Mrs. Lamington had pre-
sented him 70 4 manageable young lady, rich
and learned, In whom she expected him 10 md
his destiny. IL was one OF her theories OF life that
the 1rst thing an ambitious young man should do
was TO marry money. Before he could make reply,
however. Mrs Huntington was introducing him TO
a fair-haired girl OF about nineteen, with wonder
features.
MIS-. Lamington left them. Before however,
Walter could utter more than a few commonplace
q bury man, with racquets, came 70 claim his
Companion Tor a tennis game about 10 begin
Walter walked from tine spot discounted. May
TeupletOn had made an indefinabe impression
upon him There was a thOughtfulness in her
face combined with a gayety Ia her manner which
30 interested him that he felt quite angry at the
interruption he reJOined Mrs LaInington, how
ever, and patiently watched the tennis players
Presently a group OF ladies' discerned him and
carried him on 70 another part OF the garden.
Freeing himself at last from their attentions, he
returned TO the tennis court on his way, how
ever, he came across the enchantress sitting on a
seat shaded BY an avenue OF trees. Seating him.
SELF beside her he bey1sI he coveted conversation.
"Arr you not faIigued, Miss Tempieton, after
your exertionS ON the lawn: must compliment
you on your retreat for 10 Is immoderately warm"
Tennis does not require enough exertiOn TO
fatigue one even on such an afternoon this"
replied May. THAT Is perhaps why IL Is popular
with our SEX But 10 tell you the truth. Mr. Dig
by, ieft the lawn for a book. and thought this
would make good reading arbOr."
BY her side, with 'Shelley' In gold letters on the
back. This was the first time he had come across
Cenci." He regarded her therefore with more in
terps--
VINO shall define the limits Of a discussion on
poetry between an erudite young lady not twenty
one and a well-read man not yet thirty? Walter,
during his day dreaming, which had been cOnsid-
eTable, had drank ceep at the Pierian spring OF
poetry. May could discourse on ShelIey's finest
Nights and Waaiswcrth's most picturesque word
paihting win iaScinarng n1eney- what wonder,
had 10 come In search OF her 10 take her In TO tea
With the evening came music. May still further
enchanted - alter b. singing. with a clear accent
and rich expression. some old English ballads
which he had not OXEN heard before.
H. was conscious OF the indefinable impression
May IempetOn had made upon him, as he walked
home along the moonlit pavement He tried 10
deceive hlIRself.
..iIe had-6IIen been ca lght BEFORE he NUT
tered. "by pretty face and Dewitching tongue
but mad never 1aiied TO sleep on his emotion"
But morning fOurd him as preOccupied with
Miss Mary TetnpietOa, how she looked what she
said, and what she sang. as the night. When, as
the days passed, he could not absorb himself In
his books, or the Arguments in the courts, he got
angry with himself.
ut has ever been frst principle with me that
10 IS only given To heirs OF acres or consols, the
sons OF uukes, or OF cabinet ministers, 10 marry
young. IL II not night Tor man who has TO make
his Way In the world 10 take unto himself u wife
just as he Is making start II Is unjust TO her.
because she has 10 share his struggles and striv-
tnzs, and 70 Is unfair 10 himself because II encum-
bers MIN n the race at the beginning. man
should nTst make fair start and get on 10 the
high rOui- have not even done that yet and. II
ever 90, hymenial age will be past. Yet here
am !. held last by the nrst fair face, after my
birthday reformatiOn--
No doubt this WAS a humiliatlng confession
But Walter did not cure himself OF his folly Dur
In the autumn he sought Mrs. Lamingtons draw
In, rDJtl again and again, whenever he knew or
thought May TemPietOn 10 be there The
s.midBlght oil" was abandoned for the ballroom
glitter. The courts were left 70 ret a. we'll as